, 1887-07-22
Interesting Texas History of the
Murderer of Chas. Gum.
Assists in the UncalIed-for Killing
of ''DOIE' Smith.
Riding Over the Dead Body of a
Dance House Keeper.

Bell, all of Hamilton, Hamilton county,
and were called here by the prosecution
nearly a month since, but their presence
has been concealed from the general pub
lie for very apparent reasons.
Mr.. w. f. Chopper was interviewed by
a representative of THE LEADER last
evening and told substantially the follow
ing history of Began, alias Mccoy, before
the %latter's advent in Wyoming:
Dan Began is a desperate character
and comes of a bad family. He has a
mother and three sisters still living in
Texas. One of his brothers was killed
while resisting arrest at the hands of a
deputy sheriff. and was riding a stolen
horse at the time of his death. Another
brother escaped from the ~penitentiary
while serving a term for horse stealing,
was re%captured and served his time. and
was soon after again tried and sentenced
for a similar offense.
Dan Began left Hamilton, Tex, May
l, 1881, Immediately after the murder of
a farmer named Doll Smith by him
self and a lawless companion called Kent.
Prior to the killing, which occurred in
front of Mr.. Choppers store, Began had
been drinking, and was, after the manner
of men of his class, seeking trouble. He
placed his hand on Mr.. Chopper shoulder
and said, "Bill, l don't like you" Crop
per reached for his revolver and replied,
That's all right, but you had better
leave" when the murderer remarked,
well, you're a pretty good fellow, any.
way" and left. Began then went ont
side and was refastening the saddle on his
horse near where Kent and several others
were mounted, when Smith drove up and
politely requested the men to move in or
der that he might approach the door of
the store and load some goods in his
wagon. Began refused and cursed Smith,
telling him that he had no business in
that country. Smith again asked the
party to move, when Began approached
the wagon, and taking therefrom a chair
brandished it about and threatened to
brain Smith. The latter then became
angry, and descending from his wagon
declared that while he desired trouble
with no one, and was un~acquainted with
Began, he did not propose to be abused,
and that if Began wished to fight with
him he could. but the weapons should be
fists. The desperate made no reply and
Smith accused him of cowardice. Began
than r,,al,l ,nto L., laro-, ~ H..
six shooter, but before he could use it
Smith knocked the weapon from his
hand and proceeded to thrash him.
Observing his friend in trouble, Kent
~dismounted and struck Smith, who was
still assaulting Began, with his revolver,
when the weapon was discharged.
Smith, naturally supposing that Bo-
gan's partners were attempting to murder
him, released the PROSTATE mar and
gained possession of the revolver, which
was still lying en- the ground, and ad-
vanced toward Kent, who fired
four shots at him in rapid sue
c%ession, but Smith saved his
life each time by using Bogan's revolver
as the fencer uses a foil, but Kent seemed
determined to murder the. brave man,
and was assisted in the deed by Began,
who stole up behind Smith and struck
him a terrible blow over the head with a
stone. As Smith staggered back Kent
fired, shooting him through the heart.
Smith died instantly, Kent was placed in
Jail, and Began succeeded in escaping
during the general excitement.
On the occasion of Kent's trial, which
occurred in an adjoining county for the
reason that a jury could not be secured in
Hamilton county, he escaped by leaping
from a window in the second story of the
court house, but owing to the fact that
an ankle was sprained by the Jump. was
r%ecaptured before he could reach a horse
which had been tethered neal by for his
use. He was sentenced to be hanged and
the case wax taken to the supreme court,
where the judgment of the lower court
was changed and the sentence committed
to imprisonment for life. A new trial
was obtained and Kent was sentenced to
twenty five years, but was recently par
doned, and is now in business in South
Texas.
After the killing OF Smith Began left
for the Panhandle country, where he as
sumed the lame Of Mccoy and attached
himself to a gang OF desperate characters
who then infected that section.
On one occasion four of them rode into
a dance house, and after shooting out the
lights OF the establishment retired, and
were about to enter once more when the
proprietor net them at the door and de-
clared that anyone who gained access to
the house on horseback would be com
PEELED to ride over his dead body. Began
replied that there would be no difficulty
in accomplishing that feat, and drawing
his revolver shot the man down like a
dog and actually rode over his remains.
Shortly after this escapade two deputies
were SAINT from Hamilton with n wor-